Drive to prevent fish theft and illegal fishing during coarse fishing close season

The annual coarse fishing close season for rivers and streams is now in operation and runs until 15th June.

The close season affects all rivers, streams and drains as well as some stillwaters and some Sites of Special Scientific Interest (or SSSIs), including part of the canal network, and the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. It is important anglers check regional rules for each area for more detail as there will still be many angling opportunities for the next three months, including most stillwaters and canals.

To find out about your area check the information and byelaws here.

So where can you still fish? There are many fishing events you can get involved with, and it is the perfect time to try your hand at game or sea fishing. You can find more information here:

Get into game fishing

Get into sea fishing

Throughout the coarse fishing close season, Environment Agency officers will be conducting patrols to ensure anglers respect the no-fishing period and prevent illegal fishing and poaching. As usual, the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service and Voluntary Bailiffs will be supporting the Environment Agency throughout the close season, with teams across all areas of the country conducting joint patrols throughout the close season.

To remind anglers about the start of the close season, a joint patrol involving the Environment Agency, Humberside Police, Angling Trust and members of the Voluntary Bailiff Service was held on waters run by Scunthorpe Amalgamated Anglers.

Angling Trust Fisheries National Enforcement Support Manager Nino Brancato said:

“It is necessary that we all help protect our sport from harm, especially with matters relating to poaching, fish theft, theft of fishing rights, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping. At the Angling Trust, our aim is the protection, promotion, and development of angling and anglers, encouraging all anglers to fish legally and safeguard fisheries and fish for generations to come.”

To understand the enforcement issues faced across the country, last year the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service organised a public questionnaire on fisheries-related crime. Results showed an overwhelming majority of anglers indicated rod licence evasion as their main concern. Other areas of issue were close-season fishing, theft of fish, fishing without permission, poaching and the illegal taking of fish.

Graph showing anglers concerns among fisheries related crime

Graeme Storey, Environment Agency Fisheries Manager, said:

“Each year we work closely with the Angling Trust and the Police to enforce the close season. We urge all anglers to follow the rules and allow rivers to recover as it is vitally important to help reduce disturbances to coarse fish and protect vulnerable stocks during their peak spawning period.”

Fishing in the close season could result in a significant fine with numerous enforcement patrols happening throughout the close season. Last year, for the period 15 March to 15 June inclusive the Environment Agency carried out 933 close season patrols resulting in 106 close season offences and 203 other fishing-related offences.

In 2024, the VBS conducted 4,981 patrols, reported 368 incidents and spent 12,690 hours in voluntary support to the Environment Agency, from St Erth in Cornwall to Donaldson Lodge in Northumberland. The Voluntary Bailiff Service is managed by the Angling Trust’s Fisheries Enforcement Support Service and is fully funded by fishing licence income, delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency.

Kevin Jones of the Humberside Police said:

“Fish poaching remains a priority for Humberside Police Rural Task Force. Offenders involved are often individuals associated with poaching activities and are commonly linked to other types of rural criminality. We intend to work alongside our partners including the Angling Trust, Environment Agency and the Voluntary Bailiff Service, during the national close season to help deter and disrupt the criminality involved in fish poaching-related offences and to reassure the fishing community that such wildlife crime will not be tolerated in Humberside.

“The impact from trespassing on land, the threats and intimidation used, to the illegal removal of fish from privately owned waters can be financially and emotionally devastating for angling clubs and their members, not to mention the local communities. I am hoping this multi-agency operation will send out a clear message of deterrence to anyone considering targeting our valuable waterways through illegal fishing and fish theft, and will reassure the fishing community that such criminality will be positively dealt with by the police and partners.”

We would remind anglers that whilst the rivers are closed spring is a great time to get out fishing on your local lake or canal but remember you need a fishing licence – if you don’t have a valid licence you can get yours here.

If you see any incidents of illegal fishing or suspicious activity, you can report it to the Environment Agency 24-hour incident number on 0800 80 70 60 or the Police on 101 for any crime that does not require an emergency response. For any crime in progress always call 999.

Pictures taken from the joint patrol held on waters run by Scunthorpe Amalgamated Anglers to remind anglers of the start of the close season on rivers and streams. Pictures by Joel Virgo.